Good intentions costume

Speaking of dogs...

Grizz

Earlier this month, I attended a horse costume party.

Guaranteed

All the horses looked cute, but the dogs stole the show.

Goose

I mean.

Grizz

Just look at them.

Leo

So cute!

Little Guy

If I hadn't had my hands full with Olive, I would have totally brought Piper in her taco costume.

I love that taco costume so much, I actually have a 1:9 scale version.

A couple weeks ago, it occurred to me that I should also have a 1:9 scale dog sized version.

I made a good start on that, but this month - this whole year, really - has been so exhausting. This is as far as I got.

Tomorrow is Halloween, so this is probably a lost cause. Maybe next year. Maybe never. Only time will tell.

Pipey LePieux

As I was setting up the new LeMieux pony display at work...

it occurred to me that most of the tack was small dog sized.

As luck would have it, I have a small dog.

Yesterday, it snowed. 

We were really busy selling blankets all morning, but by the afternoon, business had slowed to a trickle. Seth happened to text me during this time, and I told him that he should bring Piper to the store. I didn't think he would, but twenty minutes later, he sent me a picture of Piper in the car.

I picked out the two items I wanted Piper to wear the most: the fleece dress sheet and Vogue halter. Unfortunately, the sheet was much too small. 

The halter was perfect.

It's perfect, Piper.

She also tried on an ear bonnet.

She liked this a lot better than the halter.

I really wanted to but the saddle on her, but Seth said I was being mean and wouldn't let me. What a party pooper!

a perfectly happy dog

He did let me take her to the Dover Dog section to try on some actual dog clothes.

Piper is built like a pipe - long and skinny. This little turnout blanket is cute, but not nearly long enough. 

The last picture is of Piper with the squirrel blanket that Olive desperately wants, even though she has a perfectly good blanket that she almost never uses.

It was really fun having Piper at the store just for a little bit, and she definitely proved that LeMieux Pony tack is also small dog tack. Next time we attempt a photo shoot, Seth won't be invited!

LeMieux ponies

It's not quite Halloween, which means it's time to get ready for Christmas. I hate that.

Except...

I don't hate these!

The Mini LeMieux Ponies are not new, but they are new to my store.

They arrived on Friday, and you should have heard us squealing in delight as we unpacked them.

Our excitement had less to do with the ponies themselves...

although they are pretty cute...

and everything to do with the accessories.

So many teeny, tiny, full functioning versions of LeMieux's full size products!

The little ear bonnets!

The vogue halters!

The grafter boots!

The fancy stitched bridle with bit!

The grooming kit!

The dress sheet with hip ornaments!

The registration papers!

Even the boxes are fun. They are assembled with velcro and are completely reversible. One side is a stall, the other a trailer.

What a great product line! Just imagine what could be done with all that very small tack!

Pictures from this week's rides

Olive has been mildly and intermittently lame. She saw the vet on Monday, and we decided to treat her with rest and NSAIDs. I prepared myself for a week of no riding.

Then I got a better offer.

From 2018 to 2021, Diana's good, old man, Stealth, and his younger, half brother, Guaranteed, were two of my most regular rides.

Stealth died two years ago this week.

I was utterly bereft.

To cope, I adopted a free, green broke mustang and threw myself into her care and training.

Not gonna lie, that was a pretty effective strategy.

In the two years since then, I've often ridden with Guaranteed.

However, I have not ridden him myself. I didn't expect to. After I got Olive, I kind of figured that part of my riding life was over.

Never have I been so happy to be wrong!

When Diana heard Olive was out of commission, she kindly offered me Guaranteed. 

I rode him twice this week, and both rides were wonderful.

I love riding Olive, but it was so good to look through these ears again.

I enjoyed every single minute.

I don't think this will be a regular thing, but I am so glad I got to ride Guaranteed.

I am especially glad I got to ride Guaranteed this week.

I think, perhaps, I've finally come to terms with what happened to Stealth.

Thank you, Guaranteed. I really needed that.

Here's hoping the next ride will be on Olive!